Because John Hanson was never considered the president of the US because the office of president of the US wasn't created until after his death and this picture is not the John Hanson of the myth. John Hanson was white.

That is the wrong John Hanson. The John Hanson that was the First President of the Congress was a very white man.

The man in the photo is the John Hanson who was part of the organization that colonized Liberia. Frankly, how could you expect to have a photo of the first president (1781), before the first photo was taken in 1826.

Ppl just dnt kno but Obama wasn't the first black president I dnt care Wat the Hell ppl say john Hanson was the first black president and I dnt need nobody else to try to rewrite history they need to let it be know that history is nt going to change let it be

Barak Obama did make national history as the first Black President. Sorry to burst some bubbles but he was not truly the first. John Hanson was.(Google His Name) He was what they called a Moor due to one of his parents not being white. His appearance was lighter than Obama as was the other 6 presidents who had a parent not of Caucasian heritage. Among these were Thomas Jefferson (Mulatto Father and Indian Squaw mother), Andrew Jackson (Irish Mother, Black Father, Oldest brother sold as a slave) and Abraham Lincoln (Ethiopian Mother, Supposed father, Thomas Lincoln, sterile since childhood and later castrated). The other three were Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Look up their heritage on your own. As Americans (Especially African Americans) we must educate ourselves rather than just what we are taught in school. In the 19th and 20th century, if you had an ounce of Black Blood in you, you were considered black. Now ask yourself why this was never published in History Books and then ask yourself who published those books. Educate Yourselves. No race is pure

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first Preside...

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents.

He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch.

All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.

Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus.

Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents.

President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department.

Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one year term during any three year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time.

The picture of the “Moor,” John Hanson, shown is actually a Sixth-plate daguerreotype, ca. 1856 (http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/... of John Hanson the 19th century Liberian Senator from Grand Bassa County who championed the relocation of slaves et al to Liberia.

John Hanson 3rd President under The Articles of Confederation

John Hanson was born in Charles County, Maryland in 1715 and died in Oxen Hills, Prince George County, Maryland on November 22, 1783. There is much debate about John Hanson's ancestry with one camp claiming he was descended from Swedish Royalty while the other group claiming he was a Moor. Neither of the assertions have merit.

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first Pres...

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents.

He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch.

All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.

Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus.

Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents.

President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department.

Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one year term during any three year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time.

Before the Constitution....there was The Articles of Confederation — in effect, the first constitution of the United States. Drafted in 1777 by the same Continental Congress that passed the Declaration of Independence, the articles established a "firm league of friendship" between and among the 13 states.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one-year term during any three-year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time. He served in that office from November 5, 1781 until November 3, 1782. He was the first President to serve a full term after the full ratification of the Articles of Confederation – and like so many of the Southern and New England Founders, he was strongly opposed to the Constitution when it was first discussed. He remained a confirmed anti-federalist until his untimely death.

Six other presidents were elected after him - Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788) - all prior to Washington taking office. Why don't we ever hear about the first seven Presidents of the United States? It's quite simple - The Articles of Confederation didn't work well. The individual states had too much power and nothing c...

Before the Constitution....there was The Articles of Confederation — in effect, the first constitution of the United States. Drafted in 1777 by the same Continental Congress that passed the Declaration of Independence, the articles established a "firm league of friendship" between and among the 13 states.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one-year term during any three-year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time. He served in that office from November 5, 1781 until November 3, 1782. He was the first President to serve a full term after the full ratification of the Articles of Confederation – and like so many of the Southern and New England Founders, he was strongly opposed to the Constitution when it was first discussed. He remained a confirmed anti-federalist until his untimely death.

Six other presidents were elected after him - Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788) - all prior to Washington taking office. Why don't we ever hear about the first seven Presidents of the United States? It's quite simple - The Articles of Confederation didn't work well. The individual states had too much power and nothing could be agreed upon. A new doctrine needed to be written - something we know as the Constitution.

George Washington was definitely not the first President of the United States. He was the first President of the United States under the Constitution we follow today. And the first seven Presidents are forgotten in history.

The following list is of those who led the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation as the Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled. Under the Articles, the president was the presiding officer of Congress, chaired the Cabinet (the Committee of the States) when Congress was in recess, and performed other administrative functions. He was not, however, a chief executive in the way the successor President of the United States is a chief executive, but all of the functions he executed were under the auspices and in service of the Congress.

I will just cut to the chase, all of what you have written is your opinion, and opinions just don't fly. I don't really have time to read what you wrote, and I doubt seriously if I would believe it anyway. I being a 71 year old Black female, have a pretty good understanding of how our country works, and if they say that Barack H. Obama is the first Black President, hey that's good enough for me, I know that in my 71 years there has never been one. George Washington as I have been taught, shall remain in my mind as the first President of the United States. I don't mean no harm, but if one ounce of what you have written was accurate the Republicans and certantily Mrs. Palin would have been all over this story and Obama would be toast, and that is not the case is it???? What you're promoting is foolishness, too old for that!

I see you just a black woman that been brain wash and hate to face the facts that there was a Nother black President. Look him up and if you don't believe that go to Washington and see his picture that's is in the back of the White house hallways

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first Pres...

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents.

He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch.

All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.

Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus.

Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents.

President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department.

Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one year term during any three year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time.

He is actually right. There were seven presidents (Jefferson, Harding, Coolidge, Lincoln, Jackson, Eisenhower) who had at least one parent either mulatto, indian, or black. Photos of them thru the years were lightened to make them only look white but do some digging and you'll find the truth about each of their parents. American History as taught in schools tells about the presidency in terms of "After the Constitution". There were seven presidents before Washington some of whom he helped to appoint, including John Hanson.

It is strange that this information hasn't surfaced before, especially during the month of February when they celebrate Black History Month. Or before it was announced from the Capitol that the first Black President had been placed in office in 2008. Hard for me to digest your information.

It's been circulating for a long time but who would believe Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson were part black? The facts are there but history was tweaked to show that one race was more dominate and it was meant to stay that way. If you notice, history books skip a lot of things. They talk about the finding of the U.S but not how things were governed before the constitution. They talk about African Americans as slaves but not the roles the played in helping establish certain aspects.

You know it doesn't surprise me, the White dudes have been tipping for a long time, and dabbling with the Black females. In the civil war days, if a man chose to be with a woman, she definitely wasn't going to tell him no, they did what they had to do to survive. Naturally, when you do the wild thing, you can expect for babies to be born. I also I read where if the baby was born and more black genes the baby went home with the mother, and if the baby looked white the baby was raised in the fathers home. My family is like the rainbow coalition, we have everything, Black, White, Asian, African, Indian and Meican. I think if all of us would check our roots, it would blow our socks off. During the civil war days they are the one's that came up with the fact that if your father is Black, you were declared Black. You are correct, there's so many things that Blacks created, invented, built and put into place, but the White man took credit for it. During Black history month, so many things are brought out, and it's very interesting. I thank and praise God because as a people we have come a long, long way. Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson didn't declare themselves Black, Barack H. Obama has been declared Black since his birth, and we are recorded as specific races, being "part" of something doesn't define what you are, it is the blood line that indicates your nationality.

You're so right. There's probably not one person with a pure line of racial heritage. Somewhere someone slept with a house slave, a Mexican worked, an Asian women, and definitely Indian women so no race is pure. The white race needs to realize they couldn't go one day with out "Black" meaning things we invented and practices we started. Open Heart surgery, Telephone, Stop lights, Light Bulbs, Some medical equipment, Technology used in satellites, even computers. It took a team of mixed races to develop a lot of the technology we use today for all the latest gadgets. It's amazing how much people forget. It just shouldn't take Black History month for people especially African Americans to learn where they truly come from. True many ancestors were slaves but we're not and we still don't take the time to learn about our own historical accomplishments.

However, getting back to the post, the bottom line is that if there was a Black president in 1781, it was not recorded that he was Black. So right now, Barack H. Obama is down in history as the first Black president. What we are seeing now from the Conservatives is ignorance, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich especially, are just saying stupdid and ignorant stuff, and they are being labeled as racist. You know at first that's what I was thinking as well, with Newt Gingrich I think his actions are coming out of frustration and desparately wanting to be the next president. Mitt Romney on the other hand is just a man who has never experienced any adversity steming from the lack of money. So he's just pompus, and that silver spoon in his mouth interfere's with what he's trying to communicate, but it's just not coming out right. For the life of me, I don't understand the Republican party, because I think that within that party is some very intelligent people, but those at the fore front are stuck on stupid, and they are making the party look bad. Right now all their giving us is a bunch of smack talk, they should take a back seat, and let those who can communicate intelligently come forth.

I totally agree. See the fore runners of the Republican party see current issues and they speak before they think. They say what sounds good to them at the time not realizing how it actually comes across to others. I'm not sure if they're racist or what and not sure I care but I do know that they are out of touch with middle class people. They don't really know the issues we deal with with on a daily basis. Mitt Romney has always had money, healthcare and imminent resources. Another issue with Republicans is that they try to solve new problems with old techniques. Things that worked in the 19th and 20th centuries won't work for the issues we have now. They need to change their way of looking at this countries problems and then maybe some real solutions can be out into play.

The GOP is doing themselves a great dis-service, just like all Democrats and Independents are not playing with a full deck, most definitely the Republican party is not. You know they have been angry for so long, I think most of their comments are coming out of a feeling of despair, the election of President Obama shook them to their core, never in a million years did they think he was going to pull it off. They are angry, but for naught, what can they do? The American people spoke and based on the constitution the majority rules. You are so right, they need to do some deep soul searching to get the Republicans back on track. I am a registered Democrat, but I've always looked at all of the candidates running for office and tried to base my choice on who was making sense to me be they Democrat, Independent or Republican. From what has been presented in the Republican candidates, I wouldn't walk across the street to vote for none of them. I was trying to hear what Huntsman was saying, but I think that he has bowed out of the race. It's a new day, and we've come aways from when Bush and Cheney were in office, I'd hate to see us retrogress. Plus, no matter who's the president, all parties need to work together for the good of our country and we the people.

I like the way you think but I believe they wanted Obama in office because they needed a fall guy. Republicans knew that the country was headed into a downward spiral and someone was gonna have to take the blame for it. They wouldn't want it to be one of their own and you see they defend Bush to the death. What they didn't expect was for him to have so many supporters still after little improvement but those of us with common sense know that it's going to take more than 3 years to turn things around. All parties do need to worry about the good of the people not their pockets.

Thanks for your compliment (I think), However, President Obama is far from a fall guy, you're not being realistic, Hilary Clinton thought that she had it sewed up, but the electorial votes posed a problem, all of the other Democrat contenders were out of the running, as was the Republicans. Senator Obama brought something to the table that the others were not, and for whatever reason, he was America's choice. Now Damesha, I whole heartily agree with your comment in reference to taking more than 3 years to turn things around, and I do believe that if the Republican party would think about the country and the American people and stop thinking about themselves and their party and stop fighting the President with everything that he suggests. I think that the restoration of our country would be a lot better off. I also don't that all Republicans are stuck on stupid, I just can't figure out why they keep allowing themselves to be represented by the likes of Newt Gigngrich, Donald Trump, and that whole line up, I just fail to see anything patriotic about them, or how I could personally as a senior be helped by any of them. Speaking of being a senior, I have a busy day ahead of me, so I've got to Ttyl

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first Pres...

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents.

He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch.

All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.

Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus.

Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents.

President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department.

Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one year term during any three year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time.

YES THATS WHAT THE FACTS SAID AND MY GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN IN THE 1900'S AND MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN 1870'S AND WHEN I WAS LITTLE THEY TAUGHT ME A LOT BEFORE THEY PASSED. THEY BOTH LIVED TO BE IN THERE 80'S AND 90'S

there are a lot of great black people that never we have given of their accomplisment. I heard as well but I don't know if is true tha Alejandro Dumas who wrote the three mosqueters was Black, You know it that Is true?

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first Pres...

From The File
A "Black" Man, A Moor, John Hanson
Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.

George Washington
was really the 8th President of the United States!

George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.

The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).

Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.

As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents.

He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch.

All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Wasington to provide the troops with shoes.

Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus.

Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents.

President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department.

Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.

The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one year term during any three year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time.